Hello all,
New here, hailing from Southwest Virginia.
I grow containerized hardwood seedlings, starting them in a roll up sided greenhouse Jan - Apr/May and then moving them out into shade houses for May - Oct/Nov.
We have had increased summer rainfall over the past few years, the continuous moisture in the pots has had a negative impact on my seedlings because they have no time to dry down and it leaches nutrients. Climate predictions suggest that we can expect increased rainfall to continue for the long term, so this is the issue I am hoping for some thoughts on. On to my questions:
I am seeking creative ways to create a sort of "umbrella" for the shade-houses. I do not want to put plastic over the full frame as that will increase the temperature too much during Summer, but would putting plastic over just the very top increase the temperature as much?
Also wondering what y'alls thoughts are on installing a retractable pool cover so that I could open it to protect the plants underneath from the rain and then retract it to allow for full sun after rain has passed?
Also wondering if anyone here has experience with shade houses in regions with monsoons? Is there a type of 30-50% shade cloth you have found that is waterproof woven rather than permeable knitted?
Open to other creative solutions to this problem, have had trouble finding much info online with an issue similar to mine.
Thanks for reading and replying.